The Jetty 1930

Paul Signac made this small watercolor, “The Jetty,” sometime in his lifetime. What strikes me first is the sketchiness, the immediacy. It’s all about the process of seeing and recording, right? Look at the water – how Signac suggests depth and movement with these quick, vertical strokes of blue. It's not about capturing reality perfectly, it's more about capturing a feeling, an impression. Then there's that red flag, such a bold, assertive little shape against the muted tones of the sky and the buildings. It's like a visual exclamation point, drawing your eye and adding a touch of drama to the scene. Signac’s work, much like that of his friend Seurat, embraces ambiguity, leaving room for the viewer to fill in the gaps.